Eisenhower claims district title with win over Alief Taylor

Alief Taylor's Kaylim Doster tries to dribble around Eisenhower's Joe Neal during the first half of a high school basketball game, Friday, January 31, 2014, at Eisenhower High School in Houston.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Eisenhower's Robert Stevenson (center) fights for a rebound with Alief Taylor's Deprey Lane (left) and Chubi Osigwe during the first half of a high school basketball game, Friday, January 31, 2014, at Eisenhower High School in Houston.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Eisenhower's Christian Miller (1) throws the ball off the knee of Alief Taylor's Keenen Brown during the first half of a high school basketball game, Friday, January 31, 2014, at Eisenhower High School in Houston.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Eisenhower's Jeremy Adams (left) passes the ball past Alief Taylor's Chubi Osigwe during the first half of a high school basketball game, Friday, January 31, 2014, at Eisenhower High School in Houston.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Alief Taylor's Keenen Brown (center) shoots past Eisenhower's Robert Steevenson (left) and Joe Neal during the second half of a high school basketball game, Friday, January 31, 2014, at Eisenhower High School in Houston.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Alief Taylor's Clayton Ward (left) chases for a loose ball with Eisenhower's Steve Taylor (center) and Kavian Williams during the second half of a high school basketball game, Friday, January 31, 2014, at Eisenhower High School in Houston.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Eisenhower's Steve Taylor has his shot blocked by Alief Taylor's Chubi Osigwe during the first half of a high school basketball game, Friday, January 31, 2014, at Eisenhower High School in Houston.

Photo By Eric Christian Smith/For the Chronicle

Eisenhower's Robert Stevenson (center) looks to shoot the ball as Alief Taylor's Chubi Osigwe (left) and Kaylim Doster defend during the first half of a high school basketball game, Friday, January 31, 2014, at Eisenhower High School in Houston.

As far as transformations go there is more than meets the eye for Eisenhower.

When Robert Stevenson and Steven Taylor were sophomores the Eagles struggled mightily. The program lacked competitiveness and lollygagged its way to five victories.

Stevenson and Taylor are seniors now, and thanks to second-year coach Mark Patton everything is different. The Eagles are district champions.

Eisenhower defeated visiting Alief Taylor, 53-39, on Friday night to clinch at least a share of the 18-5A title. Taylor is three games back of Eisenhower (24-5, 10-1) with three games left in the regular season.

It is the Eagles' first district championship since the 2008 team won 30 games. Before Patton took over last season Eisenhower it had not had a winning season since then.

After going 5-28 as a sophomore, Stevenson said he wondered if he'd ever experience success in his high school career.

"I was just trying to keep my head up two years ago," said Stevenson, who scored 10 of his team-high 14 points in the fourth quarter on Friday. "I didn't think we'd be here now, but we're here."

The Eagles have arrived thanks to Patton's program overhaul.

He changed the culture by emphasizing hard work and discipline. Patton said the Eagles needed to learn how to compete at the Class 5A level. A large part of that was putting individual gain aside in favor of teamwork.

It worked like a charm in his first season. The Eagles went from five victories in 2011-12 to 25 wins in 2012-13. They placed third in district play and made the playoffs.

"The progress has been magnificent," Patton said. "We had a lot of ground to cover Many people told me not to come here. I took a leap of faith to see what I could do."

Eisenhower has had better performances this season than on Friday, but the Eagles barely were threatened. They never trailed and led by five points at halftime.

They took an 11-point lead into the fourth quarter when senior Kavian Williams made a one-handed line drive shot from three-quarters court at the third quarter buzzer.

With the district title and No. 1 playoff seed wrapped up, Eisenhower sets its sights on a deep playoff run. Patton said the goal is to get to the regional tournament.

With hope finally on their side, the Eagles are looking forward to accomplishing more.

"After last year we said we wanted to come out this year with a bang," Taylor said. "That's what we're doing now."